Concorde Blog

Careers in Dental Hygiene

Oct 17, 2018

Concorde Career Colleges offers many exciting and rewarding educational programs to help prepare you for a fulfilling career. One option available through Concorde is obtaining a degree in dental hygiene. Dental hygienists are responsible for assisting dentists in nearly all aspects of running a dental office.

Becoming a dental hygienist generally requires a two-year degree. Concorde's dental hygiene track is an associate degree program accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) and offers completion in just 70 weeks. Completion of a dental hygiene degree qualifies one to take the National Board Dental Hygiene Examination (NBDHE), which requires a passing score to become a licensed dental hygienist. The degree and exam prepare you for the wide variety of tasks required to become a successful hygienist.

As a dental hygienist, you will be responsible for a variety of tasks. Some of the general responsibilities of all hygienists include:

Performing basic cleaning, such as removal of tartar, stains, and plaque

Educating patients on proper dental cleaning techniques and tools

Taking and developing X-rays

Organizing patient records and schedules

Although most hygienists' work in dental offices involves performing these and other duties, those in the dental hygiene profession can also find other opportunities. These would include working with clinical trials in research facilities, teaching other hygienists or community members about proper dental health in educational environments, and even working for companies selling and marketing various dental tools and products. Having such a wide variety of opportunities as a hygienist is one of the reasons why this coveted role is commonly considered a top job.

The dental hygienist profession is ranked byU.S. News & World Report as the seventh-best job to have in healthcare and is listed as No. 10 on its 100 best jobs list. It is easy to see why this job is highly regarded, as you can develop long-term relationships with patients and gain personal satisfaction knowing you played a role in keeping them healthy. Other, more tangible benefits of becoming a dental hygienist often include a flexible schedule, access to personal dental care, and financial stability. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that dental hygienists make on average a little over $70,000 a year, with a projected increase of 64,200 jobs between 2012 and 2022. This 33%growth is three times the average national growth rate for all jobs. Now is a promising time to begin a new career as a dental hygienist, and a degree from Concorde Career Colleges will certainly enable you to do that.

If you are interested in Concorde and becoming a dental hygienist, here are some available resources you can use to explore and learn more about this exciting career field and the opportunities it presents.

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